POSTGAME NOTES: Giants win second World Series title in three years

Angel Pagan dropped the line in the midst of a spring training slump. He was confident, overly confident it seemed. He said this team had the pitching to win a title, it just needed an offense that could keep pace. Pagan, a huge boxing fan, said the Giants simply needed to be a team that liked to fight.

“Fight like upside-down cats,” he said.

They fought throughout, and in the World Series, they turned the Tigers upside down. This was dominance, pure and simple. Dominance by Major League Baseball’s current dynasty, a team that has won two of the last three titles and won seven straight to cap this remarkable season.

Pagan, soaked and smiling, chose a stronger image to describe this team of champions. They’re no longer cats.

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“You can’t hurt steel,” he said. “You can’t hurt steel, baby. This group was too special to take down.”
The Dodgers will vouch for that, same with the Reds and Cardinals. The Giants won a division title that they weren’t expected to win, especially after Melky Cabrera was lost and the Dodgers swung a pair of blockbuster deals. They won six elimination games to reach the World Series, a record.

Once here, they sailed. The Giants gave up six runs in four games, the fewest by a National League staff since 1963. They held the Tigers to a .159 batting average. How low is that? Madison Bumgarner and Matt Cain both topped that mark in the regular season.

Cain battled through the night, but in the season’s biggest moment he was a spectator. Same with 23 other Giants. This came down to Ryan Theriot and Marco Scutaro, and that was perfect. Just absolutely perfect.

The Giants pride themselves on being the ultimate team This was the ultimate team moment. Scutaro took Theriot’s job and never looked back, turning into an NLCS MVP while Theriot was relegated largely to cheering duties. Theriot never complained, never stopped working. The two second basemen talked about their swings and helped each other, and Theriot even tried to become a left fielder in an attempt to get back in the lineup.

On Sunday he was back in there, the DH in a World Series game. And in the 10th inning he singled off of Phil Coke, who had struck out the first seven Giants he faced in this series. Scutaro came up three batters later and you just knew he was going to end all of this. The Giants knew, too.

Hunter Pence looked out on the field and saw Theriot, a man who once scored the winning run for LSU in the college National Championship.

“That lifted our spirits,” he said. “It was like, ‘This has to happen. This is going to happen.’ ”

It happened. Scutaro drove in Theriot, all but ending the World Series. Theriot was smiling before he even touched the plate.

“Words can’t describe that moment,” he said. “That was deja vu. You touch third base and you usually glance back, but I saw Flan waving me so hard. I knew I was going to make it.”

There were no backups in that moment. Theriot was again a huge part of this team, and again he had scored a title-winning run.

“Yeah,” he said, smiling. “It’s getting embarrassing.”

The Giants were soon piling on Sergio Romo at the pitcher’s mound. Theriot was there, Scutaro too.

— The Giants are the fourth team to win at least seven World Series titles, joining the Yankees, Cardinals and A’s.

That Buster Posey sure knows a thing or two about timing, no? Posey has caught two World Series clinching pitches in three years, and tonight he was a big part of the reason why Romo got to take the mound for the final outs. His homer kept the Giants around.

“I think for three years now, I understand how hard this game is,” Posey said. “And what it takes to win, not only in the regular season. Then when you get in the postseason, everything is amplified.”

Posey didn’t have a great postseason at the plate, but he was a guiding light for a pitching staff that came together.

“He needs to get a lot of the credit for that,” Ryan Vogelsong said. “A lot.”

Posey also came up with two of the biggest hits in franchise history. His last extra-base hit before tonight came in Game 5 against the Reds, a grand slam that clinched the comeback. He helped clinch the title with a homer to left tonight that curled around the foul pole.

“I kind of had some Carlton Fisk memories,” Pence said. “I was out there leaning for it to stay fair. It was a really cool moment.”

The cool thing about a stage like this is that it lets the country get a glimpse at players who don’t play in major markets. And by that, I mean they don’t play for the Yankees or Red Sox. If they didn’t know already, baseball fans now know: Posey is as good as it gets in this game right now.

He’s always thinking ahead, too. Posey was asked how big it was to sweep…

“It was a big win — I know it sounds silly,” he said. “But they would have had Verlander tomorrow.”

Not anymore.

— Scutaro wasn’t the only longtime veteran to finally get a title. Vogelsong, at 35, is a champion.

“I got punched in the mouth,” he said. “And I don’t even care.”

— The Giants are the first NL team to win two titles in three years since the Reds dominated in the mid-1970’s. Bruce Bochy now has two titles, and Brian Sabean didn’t even let a reporter finish the question when he was asked about Bochy.

“Hall of Famer,” he said. “Enough said.”

Bochy is building one hell of a legacy, and he’s not going anywhere.

“I count my blessings,” he said. “I’m blessed to be in a situation where we can win.”

— Pablo Sandoval was named MVP of the World Series, another ironic twist to all this. The Giants acquired Scutaro to help fill a void when Sandoval was hurt. Instead they got two MVPs hitting in front of the likely regular season MVP.

“It’s a team — it’s a team,” Sandoval said. “I say thank you to the team for giving me an opportunity to be here.”

— What did Pagan think when the Giants got the last out? “I can’t tell you because I don’t remember,” he said. “I got down on my knees and cried.”

— There’s so much more to get to, but it’s nearly 4 a.m. here and the parade isn’t until Wednesday, so we’ve got a little bit of time to get to it all. The Giants will need those days to recover, too, if the celebration tonight was any indication.

Bochy brought the trophy into the crowded clubhouse and handed it to a player. All of a sudden a chant went up: “BARRY! BARRY! BARRY!”

Zito wasn’t in the room, but he was being honored for his contributions. It was his win in Game 5 of the NLCS that turned the tide, his win over Verlander that got this World Series run going.

“That was surreal,” Zito said. “I could hear it from the other room. I was so blessed to have the best stuff of my season on that night of Game 5. To be able to change the momentum and capitalize on that moment — wow.”

Zito shook his head. “Wow,” he said again.

A moment later, Larry Baer walked up to him. “You’re not done yet,” he said to a left-hander who has had such a rough ride but became a postseason standout. Like Zito said, it was a surreal run.

When the “BARRY!” chants died down, a group of young players grabbed the trophy. “ROOKIES! ROOKIES! ROOKIES!”

Then came some of the veterans. “OLD GUYS! OLD GUYS! OLD GUYS!” It was a series of impromptu moments, just like Pence’s speech in Cincinnati. All of this happened on the road, but the Giants are coming home.

“Let’s prepare for that parade,” Pence said. “It’s time to celebrate.”

Thanks for the great write-ups all season Alex. Heckuva first year on the Giants beat, eh?

World Series Champion San Francisco Giants – wow, sounds good.

JD4SF

I’m still euphoric. WOW! What a RIDE we had for 2012! From bumps in the road and winces earlier in the season to the World Series Champs … much less in a SWEEP!

Pitching!
Defense!
Offense!
TEAM effort!!!

YESSSSSSSSS!!!!
EVERYONE contributed in some way. 8)

We’ve been watching a competetive team dynasty building for a few years now, and *this* team with so many new faces has been a joy to watch evolve through the season as they gradually gelled, then emerged as a TEAM. (Together Everyone Achieves More)

So this Giants fan since ’58 will yell a loud and enthusiastic YEEEEHHHHAAAAWWWW!!!! to our 2012 World Series Champs!

The orange and black parade in SF is scheduled for Halloween. Wish I could be there!

Woj

I wish the San Francisco Giant fans over 35 years old could collectively grab and hoist that Trophy today and have the players chat “LOYAL FANS! LOYAL FANS! LOYAL FANS!” because this is truly a special moment for all of us who stuck with this team our entire lives. It feels so fantastic right now to be Champions again! and to enter the legendary status of the Big Red Machine. The 2010-2012 Giants are the big black pitching machine! All of us LOYAL decades+ fans have endured the losing, mediocrity, playing second fiddle to the Dodgers, then getting good but losing the NLCS to the Cardinals in 1987, finally getting to the World Series in 1989 and then having the Earthquake, layoff, then the A’s #1 and #2 pitchers come back and that potent offense shut up down and get swept. Then 1997’s quick 3-1 loss to the Marlins, then 1998’s heartbreaking Game #162 loss and then the Wild Card playoff loss to the Cubs, then 2000’s best NL record and ANOTHER NLDS loss to the Mets, then 2002’s NL Pennant winning but utter devastating W.S. loss to the Angels in Games 6 (horrible) and Game 7 (expected), and then 2003’s quick 3-1 NLDS loss to the Marlins, again.

We deserve this, It feels soo fantastic I can’t go to the sleep. My hair is dried with champagne and I don’t care. Thanks you to the 2012 Giants players and management, you were magnificent and I am blessed tonight to be a lifelong fan of the World Champion San Francisco Giants!

JD4SF

Woj, some of us go back to when the Giants first came out to SF and played in Seals Stadium in 1958. Yeah, I understand what you’re saying. Patience required! Patience was rewarded in 2010, now again in 2012. And my crystal ball says we’re not done yet as a strong contending team. 😉

Wineguy

I will never forget the Parade of 2010, and I will not miss this one my friends and I will attend on Wednesday!

JD

Alex, thank you for reporting on a great season. You more than live up to Baggs high standard around here. You just need to write a book about this season now.

What a great year; so much memorial events happened that it’s hard to pick a favorite, but my favorite moment of the season was during Cain’s perfect game when Belt naively sat on Cain’s spot during the game and Volgelsong chewed him out. It’s the little moment like that that made this such a great team.

Dude

Who cares about breckeroni? the giants won the world freakin series!!!!!!

underdogg

It was an unbelievable season for the Giants.

Thank you— Mr. John Moore for selling out San Diego Taxpayers and Bruce Bochy. We could have never done it without your help. All we need now is to add Adrian G. to our 2012-2013 line-up.

Mr. John More you promised San Diego Taxpayers a World Series team but your Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) written in fine print read ….San Francisco Giants!!!!!!!

thanks again,

underdogg

Mavo

Hats off to you Alex … great job covering a great team and a magical year!!!

PoloGroundz

I think Bochy left Cain out there too long in the 7th. Almost lost it for us. He should be fired! 😉

This feels great. 2010 felt like losing your virginity – can’t believe it happened, everything felt different afterward. This time, to watch a team its fans KNEW was an excellent team march through the playoffs in historic fashion and make a mark that puts them in the a class with some of the great teams of the last 50 years (1960s Orioles, 70s Reds, and so on) — that’s something so much more special, it’s something that we as a franchise and we as a fan base will carry with us for EVER!

Orange Giants Jersey

Thank you, Giants, I love you guys!! Congratulation again.

The Oracle

Truly amazing, maybe even more so than 2010. As much as I hoped, I didn’t think this team was good enough to do what they did. Instead, they played nearly flawless baseball and almost everyone on the roster contributed in some way. Most importantly, the starting pitching suddenly regained it’s mojo at exactly the right time. All of this shows that, not only are these players talented, but they have the intangibles that make a winner.

I would imagine that is has never happened before where a team won two World Championships so close together with only one regular in common between the two teams. Fortunately, that ONE was Buster Posey. There is absolutely no good reason why this shouldn’t happen again. The nucleus is young and under team control. Crawford and Belt will likely continue to improve, and other youngsters may join them within the next couple of years. The team is in the capable hands of Sabean, who had the best year of his career this season, and Bochy. As much as I might have disagreed with Bochy at times, and will still in the future, there’s no arguing with his track record.

As fans, we’re also lucky that this team appears to be made up entirely of good people. I think it contributes to a closer bond between a team and it’s fans. As much as I was in awe of Bonds’ amazing talent, my feeling as a Giants fan at that time was just different than it is today.

I’m also glad that, even though there will be no more baseball for three plus months, there is no offseason for those of us who pontificate here. With free agent signing periods, the Winter Meetings and everything related, there is no reason for the discussing and arguing among fans to stop. In that vein, I offer the following off season priorities:

1. Sign Posey to an extended deal;
2. Sign Scutaro, even if it takes a little overpaying;
3. Sign Pagan, but only to terms that are reasonable;
4. Figure out left field;
5. Do whatever is necessary to try to reinforce to Sandoval and Lincecum the importance of off season preparation

Finally, is Belt now one of “Bochy’s guys”?

CalBear

Living in the Sunset as a boy, i can still remember my mother coming home with a stack of 5×7 B&W glossies she handed me, and said, “here, u can put these on your wall if u want.” Willie Kirkland, Hank Suaer, Mike McCormick, Orlando Cepada, Jose Pagan, Jim Davenport, Gaylord Perry, Willie Mac, Willie Mays, Juan Marichal…..

I will never, ever forget that bedroom wall…but I may never forget the bar in Pleasanton tonight with two diff ladies wearing CRAWFORD jerseys, one, married to his coach, whose son was Brandon’s best friend since they were 7, or the other gal, who she did not know, whose daughter was Brandon’s gf at Foothill High.

I will never forget Sergio Romo sending the Tigers to the showers on 3 straight K’s…will you? BTW, Lefty…..I told u 6 months ago I thought Romo was a closer…and, on that note, I think Brian Wilson now has a job in jeopardy.

But, who cares? now all I am concerned about is how to get inside an office building on Market next Wednesday Morning.

PoloGroundz

And people:

The All Time World Champion Leaderboard has been updated, drum roll please:

That’s right people, we passed the Dodgers on the all-time World Series Champion list!

JC

It’s been a great season. 2012 will be the year that the San Francisco Giants franchise has become a dynasty. Two championships in three years. That is surreal. I want us to go for number three next season but right now it is time to reflect and celebrate. Giants have built a foundation here around young guys that fill the core of this team, a strong rotation and pitching staff and a mixture of misfit experienced players like Pence n Pagan and some older guys like Scutaro, Nady, Vogey, etc.

2012 offseason will be interesting however as Giants will have a handful of free agents that were key components of this 2012 championship team.

Free Agents: Hopefully all will return, Theriot prob not but he has been the lucky charm the last two seasons being part of the Cardinals championship team last year and with the Giants this year. All teams should be lining up for him, LOL.

Rust, a word synonymous with Detroit – How fitting! But still a pathetic excuse. If our boys would have lost it would be because they were beat by the best, headlines would have read!!! East coast bias oh well. Been a devoted fan for 46 years and I’m liking the word “Dynasty”
Baggs couldn’t have been more wrong!
Alex- You are the BEST!!!!!

brabon99

THE GOOD

alex is roy

baseball is poetry.

the player who scored the winning run was an actual rajun cajun…somewhere, the thrill had a wide smile

the closer has one of the biggest hearts in all of the mlb

the team that was meant to win…did

leyland is a class act. i kinda miss the days when managers wanted to kill each other…where is whitey?

fox took a bath on the ws…eff em

THE BAD

fox…wont go through everything, but go to fox sports and watch the wrap. watch mccrappy show that he doesnt understand what karma means and watch aj attempt to make himself a part of the giants family. aj is invited to the parade, if he lets all the mission goon punch him in the balls…one at a time…over and over.

THE UGLY

selig. great ceremony. wouldve been better if you had come out to say how much you hated being a part of that and how much you wish the entire org would fall into the cove.

CB

Screw it: Giants offseason and path toward 2013 run starts now.

Lineup:
C Buster Posey Probable 2012 NL MVP
1B Brandon Belt Probable 2013 Gold Glove at 1B
2B Marco Scutaro (Need to re-sign him as soon as we can offer contracts to players, lock him up for two years so he can retire as a Giant)
3B Pablo Sandoval 2012 World Series MVP
SS Brandon Crawford Probable 2013 Gold Glove at SS
LF Gregor Blanco Re-sign him on a one or two year max major league deal.
CF Angel Pagan Re-sign him to a three or four year deal, will be hot commodity on the market if not.
RF Hunter Pence Reverend, will be back in 2013 and hopefully longer.

Media coverage of our title has been terrible. Thank God for Alex and a few writers out there who understand that baseball isn’t just HRs and Ks, or $$$ and numbers, it’s a game played by men.

South City Jim

I have to do this one more time in 2012:

Where’s Hitman? Heh,heh,heh

gigi

I can’t even….omg, so surreal. I knew this team would win but it was agonizing and just like that, I can’t believe they’ve actually done it. Insane.

Seriously Alex, amazing job all year. We are lucky to have you.

GiantSharkie

Alex, please write a 2012 book!

Kyle Perizi

There were so many twists and turns in this Gs season that it was like being on a roller coaster and we got to experience it all through this Blog.

So many little things had to go right and did, so many stories of redemption, like, BZ and RV, and TL , finding a new way to contribute.

Pablo took so much grief and never said anything back in retaliation or in some contrived excuse, he just kept swinging and believing and wow.

So much of the Gs nucleus is young and has bonded through 2 WS runs, it’ll be a blast to see it all play out.

Kyle Perizi

So much awe and respect to the Baseball Gods, thank you for your baseball blessings.

Richard in Winnipeg

What a year.
What a season.
What a team.

Thanks Giants.

Stewie

Thanks Alex, you had one hell of a rookie year, and you need to sign long term.

Thank you San Francisco Giants for a wonderful season and more lifetime memories!

Kyle Perizi

All this and the Niners on tonight, I’m not worthy.

The Willies

It’s amazing that The Giants are the last team standing! I saw them as a good, but flawed team. I really thought The Reds and The Nationals were better. The Giants figured out their starting pitching on the fly — in the midst of the playoffs! Bochy is a great field general, and he had an unselfish set of soldiers who were willing to follow him. The persistence of this team has been remarkable. There’s a life lesson for all of us.

Anti-Lasorda

JC,

Blanco is arbitration eligible and under team control; not a free agent.

Damn Scott Cousins cost us a three-peat… I don’t think you can doubt that now

I still can’t comprehend where this club is., and where it will go.

Melky who?….

Mike

Melky was the reason the Zgiants were not 10 out in July. Lets not be so harsh on him.

Sign Pagan if price is reasonable otherwise go after Bourne hard. On second thought, the Giants will be awash with money again do get them both !

brabon99

cf is at a premium this season

pagan in love with mays, may help for a home town discount…but reality says that pagan goes for the money

this may be scoots last contract…second base also a premium..

will not be upset if either leave. biz is biz.

jerseygiant

Happy and grateful that the Giants swept. With Sandy bearing down on us here, I doubt there would be power anywhere to watch another game. Enjoy Parade 2 all you fans who are going on Halloween. Hope Larry Baer brings this trophy to Finnerty’s bar in NYC for us fans here. Just like he did with the with first one. SF GIANTS, #1 AGAIN!

brabon99

we need to thank krueg and maddog

i still believe their rants started the ball rolling

now i want maddog to rant…JUST 3 TIMES

Shreve

Thank u so much for everything this year alex. For an out of towner like me your tweets and articles were crucial. Thank you!!!!!!

dgg

Thanks so much, Alex. I really enjoyed hearing about the impromptu chants: “BARRY! ROOKIES! OLD GUYS!” Those chants say what this team is all about. One of my favorite quotes from last night’s interviews was Barry Zito: “Hunter gave a speech, and we were all speechless.”

I read your tweets all season. One of my all-time favorites was from last night: “Lincecum running in from bullpen with his arms out like a little kid impersonating an airplane.”

I can’t wait until your book comes out.

Foothills Ryan

Surrealism for sure !

Did that really happen? It was almost too easy. Romo K’s the Tigers 1-2-3 and finishes off the AL Triple Crown winner by catching him looking on back door 2-seamer.

So much for winning this thing on Halloween. With the parade, however, it will still be an orange and black Halloween

This team just refused to follow the script. From Melky going down, to almost going down to the Reds, to almost going down to the Cards, and finally vanquishing the Tigers in 1-2-3-4; they wrote their story, and created their own destiny.

What a TEAM!!

Enjoy the happy days.

Foothills Ryan

Romo could have just as easily won the MVP also. Shutting it down 3 times and making it look easy was huge.

I thought this was great: the GIF of Romo shaking off Posey to get to that final fastball.

Tremendous coverage all year long – Alex Pavlovic is my pick for league MVP..

Jstreet

Great! Team, people, games. Whatta night, series, season. Best time to be a Giant fan.

2holehitting

Congrats to the Giants. Now they can go sign a second baseman a centerfielder a right fielder a left fielder and posibly upgrade 1rst base and sign a backup second baseman and a backup outfielder or 2.

Cheers till next year.

Keith W.

Thank you, Alex! What a year!

No Longer Long Suffering Giants Fan

My God! I’ve been a Giants fan since 1957 (yes, NY Giants) and I never thought anything could be better than the 1st one in 2010, but this is every bit as good because of how they did it.

If I hear one more “expert” talk about the Tigers “Layoff,” I’m gonna scream, especially since we were all told, before the Series, that it would have no effect on them. The Giants were the better team even BEFORE the Series. They won more games in a tougher division AND tougher league.

We were told about the Tigers unbeatable pitching. But who did they beat: the A’s and Yankees; 2 teams who just swing for the fences? We were told how great the Tigers are at home, but nobody mentioned that since the All Star Break the Giants were a .700 team on the road! And, scored more runs on the road than every team in baseball except the Angels.

There was no luck involved here. This was earned! By an offense that executed as well as any in baseball (led the NL in sac flys and productive outs). By a defense that not one “Expert” mentioned until it started making plays (Billy Ripken actually gave the Tigers the edge on defense before the Series: moron!). By a starting rotation that knew how to pitch and a pen that was so deep there was no way the Tigers were gonna win a battle of the pens in Game 4.

And let’s not forget Bochy and Sabean.

You know how I judge a manager? Do his players bust their ass all the time? No team hustles more than the Giants. Why do you think the Giants led baseball in triples? Not because of the ballpark, because when they hit a ball that far they bust it out of the box, they don’t admire it (even Belt learned that lesson). Why was Arias safe on Rolen’s error? Cause he busted his ass down the line. Why did Pagan beat the relay throw against the Cards that brought in a run? Because he ALWAYS goes as hard as he can. Attitude is a reflection of leadership.

With the exception of Scutero, this Giants team is young. Pagan is the old man at 30. Pence is only 28. Belt, Crawford, Panda, Posey. Kids. Pitchers: Set up with Cain and MadBum. In two years figure out what to do if Zito, Vogie are too old and Lincecum has truly lost it. I don’t see major changes. If Scutero wants a 3-4 year contract the Giants will let him walk. If Pagan wants a home run hitters contract the Giants will let him walk to. Giants figure they can replace Pagan with Blanco. And then resign Melky. I still maintain the Giants will resign Melky. 2nd base – if not Scutero, make do with Theriot and/or Arias. It’s the Giants way.

totalfan62

HOW SWEET IT IS!! 2012 San Francisco Giants: WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!! Wow.

Have to admit that the first one in 2010 was sweeter, only because we had waited 50+ years to win one. That being said, I was happy for this group of players. Sabes said it best: great group of players, even better people.

One thing that was very similar to the 2010 team: these guys believed in each other, and they knew that when they couldn’t get it done someone else would pick them up. It happened all year, especially after the suspension and all through the emotional run to the NL West Division title.

Sabean and Bochy. Wow, are we fortunate–and blessed–or what? Bochy is proving himself to be a Hall of Fame caliber manager. Sabean should be praised as well. He made all the right moves and always at the right time. Be honest now: on July 30, did you think Marco Scutaro would turn out to be the key player for us in the postseason?

I also have to say that the Giants Extra blog made this season for me. Being out of market I depend on Alex and all of you to keep me informed and aware. Great job, Alex! I love all of my GE buddies, thanks for everything.

2012 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS. WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!

HOW SWEET IT IS!

BC Guy

Congratulations San Francisco. From Scottsdale to Detroit it was a year to remember. Can’t wait for Spring Training 2013 already.

My only thought about the starters is the following. There haven’t been very many guys pitch every five days in the majors for a long period of time. Ryan, Clemens, King Felix are notable exceptions. Starting in the majors has become a revolving door. In this ‘juiced up’ era in baseball consistent, exceptional performance on the mound is rare. The DH adds to the challenge.

Let’s be honest Cain, Madison, Timmy were limping to the finish. But who in baseball has pitched more than these guys over the past five years? Conditioning sure. Diet sure. But the truth is major league pitchers are breaking down faster than ever.

Madison and Timmy both got extra rest in the post season. Both produced. Cain got the job done, but not his usual dominating. He never missed a start.

When your guy with customary pinpoint precision starts to miss and miss badly (like Timmy), he’s exhausted. It’s not mechanics or tempo or whatever. He’s exhausted. With more judicious use of rest that doesn’t interference with performance incentives, this team can win again. Why? Because this may be the best rotation ever assembled in the history of baseball.

Congrats again SF Giants.

E-B

S-F-G W-O-R-L-D S-E-R-I-E-S C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N-S 2-0-1-2 ! ! !

what i’m so struck w/ is how this team, this ‘sfg family’ converted adversity into opportunity throughout the year, and through the postseason.

i believe that the results of this year’s world series will change *how* baseball will be played in the future.

— and, what about our magic bullet outta the bullpen this year?
Timmy was a true weapon as a ‘swing pitcher’.
he was a threat to the opposing team;
he was the safety net for our team.
(imagine being a hitter on the opposing team, not knowing if/when you’d be facing Timmy? it puts uncertainty in the minds of the other team’s hitters. advantage, SFG.)
It’s like having 2 starters for every game.
i think postseason games will follow this model.

wow, what a team, what an organization.
S-F-G r awesome !

E-B

totalfan62 says:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:20 am

AMEN!

how sweet the sound: SFG WS Champs 2012!

E-B

dgg says:
October 29th, 2012 at 6:17 am: + + +

Alex tweet: “Lincecum running in from bullpen with his arms out like a little kid impersonating an airplane.”

E-B

Alex, thank you for taking care of us all season long.

man, what a rookie year for you too–covering a WS season!
you’ve filled some really big shoes like a veteran.
looking foward to next season through your lens.

3Kings

Woj

If it wasnt for under 35s like me

The giants may have 0 rings

Go Giants

Dynasty!!!

E-B

@Lefty…

eagerly awaiting your post-season summary/thoughts.

i’m really sold on the concept of staff ace as swing-pitcher in the postseason, or during the very hot humid months of july-august.

The Giants have 22 Pennants compared to the Dodgers 21
The Giants have 7 World Series titles compared to the Dodgers 6
The Giants have more overall wins than the Dodgers and they own a better head-to-head record.

When they talk about Melky, Bonds and Mota you can always bring up Manny Ramirez, Eric Gagne and Kevin Brown.

@dgg: what do u think about Timmy as a swing-pitcher during hot humid months of july/august?

G-ManFaninCan

living in Winnipeg, so far from San Fran yet feeling so close, wearing my #orangefriday Giants jersey and thinking about all the great memories from the past season…

wow! Thank you Giants! best year ever!

orangeandblack

Simply the best

brabon99

not one beat guy or national press dude noted that, as a result of the weather, comerica played exactly like the stick…right down to the jet stream, with swirling masses in other parts of the park

cant beat a good giants team at the stick

mike crawford was lovin it

rodbecksmustache

I knew when I moved to 240 #24 there might be a little magic in store 😉

I always forget to say it but thanks to Alex and the blog team for accommodating the Giants Jones for all of us blog-goers.

I hope that the brand of baseball the Giants play can finally garner the respect it deserves after this impressive sweep of a potent offensive team.

And how about the defense? The defense overall was nothing short of stifling, and I have to imagine that this had a significant impact on the tigers. The frustration must have been high, and they had to be thinking “if I don’t hit it out, it’s going to BE an out.” The consensus was that Giants’ pitching could not keep them in the park, and in the end they were effectively limited to hitting it out if they wanted to score. Crawford especially deserves praise. The tigers needed Bay Alarm because the guy is a thief.

A one dimensional team bested by a multidimensional team. Thats not 100% fair because they have good pitching, but the Giants beat them there too, by a margin just slim enough to make them CHAMPIONS.

I’m glad I got to experience it at home this time. Now I have 2010 to remember with Giants fans in NYC, and 2012 to remember with Giants fans in The City.

Once again – congrats Giants, congrats fans, and thanks Giants org for another special year that made my homecoming one I’ll never forget!

CHAMPS! AGAIN!

Evan

I wish I could go the the parade. Hopefully, if and when I move back to California, they’ll win the WS again and I can be there. My brother was there for the parade in 2010 and he said it was amazing. Thanks for another great year Giants! Now it’s the 49ers’ turn to bring home another SB.

Lefty

It was hard for me to pick an avatar for today…such a classic TEAM victory last night–but I went with Romo. That 89 MPH fastball down Broadway to freeze the current best hitter in the game has replaced Brian Wilson’s 3-2 cutter to Ryan Howard in the 2010 NLCS as the pitch I’ll watch 100 times–maybe 1000–and never get tired of seeing it.

I’m short, too, and was never on any “likely to succeed” lists. Maybe that’s why I love guys like Timmy and Romo and Scutaro so much.

So much to say. I have lots of thoughts about the national media and the off-season and the free agents, but I’ll save those for another post. Today I want to focus on my favorite memories of this wonderful postseason:

–Matt Cain running on fumes but keeping his team in the game every single start, including all three series clinchers
–Madison Bumgarner digging deep at age 23 to shake off two bad outings and throw his second brilliant World Series start in three years
–The sparkling defense and clutch-hitting of Brandon Crawford & Gregor Blanco
–Pablo Sandoval and Tim Lincecum rising above difficult seasons to come up big when their team needed them most
–Jeremy Affeldt, just flat-out brilliant throughout the playoffs, striking out the heart of the order in a tie game in the 8th (I’m off the fence. BRING THAT GUY BACK!)
–Hunter Pence, somehow making “Friday Night Lights” actually transfer to baseball playoffs.

And the truly inspirational:
–Ryan Vogelsong’s transcendent, historic run of postseason starts. I saw a beautiful photo of him and Nicole with the trophy. It brought tears to my eyes. I remember him saying last season when he arrived: “Everyone’s wearing their World Series rings–and I want one.” Well, you GOT one, buddy–and they couldn’t have done it without you. #RallyEnchiladas forever!

–Sergio Romo’s fearless, gutsy pitching in the toughest, scariest moments. He never failed. Not once. (Back in June, I said he’d be a great Willie Mac winner. I still think that, with all due respect to the much-deserving winner.)

–Barry Zito saving the season in St. Louis and playing David to Verlander’s Goliath in GAME ONE of the World Series

–And BUSTER POSEY, coming back from a devastating injury to put the team on his back in the second half and captain a pitching staff that came together–just in time.

I will never forget 2010 because it was the first after 40 years of being a fan. I will never forget this one because of the likable, resilient, inspiring character of this team.

Not that I had anything to do with it–but I feel proud to be a part of it.

Noce

In 2010 I jumped up and down and hugged my wife and yes was a bit misty eyed for my dad who had passed way the year before and missed it all. That year I took my pocket schedule with all my ticket games marked on it and laminated it and put it on his grave marker.

This year I jumped up and down but it was more subdued. How do you top 2010 well in one word “perfection”. Cain’s perfect game, a perfect All Star game for the Giants and now a perfect record in the World Series.

I am not sure it will ever get any better then this and so for now I am just going to enjoy the parade for a second time. What was on my bucket list has now been checked off twice.

Brian Sabean deserves much of the credit for where this team is. He as morphed from a GM going after veterans through free agency and trades to one who has built from with in. I can’t prove it but Ned Colletti as Sabean’s right hand man leaving may have been a blessing. Sabean now relies on John Barr and Dick Tidrow on evaluating players. Building from within. Scouting also played a big part to this. Last night Baggs report that Brian Johnson who lives in the Detroit area had attended 70 tiger games and was a wealth of information.

Bochy, of course deserves for both on field decisions and clubhouse atmosphere. As Sabean said he is a Hall of Fame Manager. Enough said.

In the end it comes down to those playing the game. I think in future dictionaries when they define the word team there should a picture of the 2012 Giants. In most team sports you rely on the guy next to you all the time. In baseball you might only be involved in a few select plays during a game. Baseball is a little more match up oriented. But when you see players laying out their bodies for the play and when everyone contributes in one way or another there is no doubt the played by their motto. “We play for the name on the front of the jersey not the back”. In this jaded times its hard to believe this happened but it did. No matter how the outcome was going to go I was proud to be a Giants fan. Winning, no Perfection only makes it sweeter.

pacman68

This World Series is probably sweeter cause the nucleus of young homegrown players set us up for years to come. What a great job everyone in the organization has done.

Oh man, Phil Coke is a character. Gotta like that guy – and not just for what he gave up to Scutaro, but for battling, that string of strikeouts, and being a classic a Nor-Cal guy. Check his portion of this clip starting at 2:24.

I just love that so many of the games were won with defense. The only starter I can’t think of having a defensive gem is Pence, but I can’t recall any balls to him that needed any.

Blanco and Crawford had many. Pagan and Pablo had a handful each. Scutaro had a few, including the sweet spin move in RF, Belt made several great picks, Posey with several including the swipe tag on Fielder. [If I am forgetting a Pence gem, someone remind me.]

The blueprint finally was followed.

—————————————–

I’m exhausted. It will be fun to think about the off season moves and such. The expectations I had entering the post season get blown up now. The owners have more money to reinvest.

It’s almost hilarious, but I did not think the Giants could even get to the World Series until they were on the brink of that first elimination.

It was not until I pictured how a comeback COULD happen, that I realized they could win it all. Until then I thought it was more like a lottery ticket, not something they had the power to control (yeah, yeah, they didn’t control it so much as Dusty choked, but still . . .).

RB’sMustache, I posted about that interview while it happened. I was genuinely moved by him. Thanks for the link.

I hope more of the interview gets posted, before that point they join it on your link, he also spoke about the so called excuses made by the media, calling them BS and giving the Giants credit, but it was more in HOW he said it then what he said. He was so honest it was beautiful.

It made me a Phil Coke fan.

ClutchUp

Kudos to Alex. Kudos to Dan Brown. Kudos to Carl Steward. Kudos to all Extra Giants Fans who hung with this TEAM thru early peaks and valleys. Hang in there Mavo!

Tim’s role as middle reliever in this postseason produced impressive numbers. He ended up as #11 on an elite list of 11 pitchers pitching 13 or more innings in one postseason with lowest ERA. His other numbers were amazing too: 17 strikeouts (3rd on the list) and only 2 walks. I think you have to wonder now if it isn’t possible for Tim to have a John-Smoltz-like starter/reliever/starter career (minus the Tommy John surgery of course, don’t want that to ever happen). From some things Tim said recently, he wants to stay a starter, but he’s aware of the careers of John Smoltz and Dennis Eckersley, the only two pitchers in MLB history to record both a 20-win season and a 50-save season.

Sam

brabon99 says:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:06 am
not one beat guy or national press dude noted that, as a result of the weather, comerica played exactly like the stick…right down to the jet stream, with swirling masses in other parts of the park

cant beat a good giants team at the stick

mike crawford was lovin it
————–
The Giants never won a title at the stick.

Sam, I’d add that I don’t recall any pop ups (deep, but more pop-up than fly ball) that the wind took over the fence. Perhaps some old timers may know of some from back when the park was an open semicircle, but that never happened once it was a closed stadium.

Mrburns904

Can anybody please post Hunter Pence’s pre-game interview with John Kruk? It was the most awesome interview I’ve seen yet, and of course in all of ESPN’s brilliance I can’t find it anywhere online…

The Giants have past the Los Angeles Dodgers in number of Championships.

Heh, heh, heh.

rodbecksmustache

@TWC – Absolutely. Bummer I missed your original post. I earned a ton of respect for the guy, and his assessment really captures the thin lines that separate success from failure in MLB, or baseball in general for that matter.

I really like what I’m gearing from Pablo too. It seems like it’s possible that this experience has really seen him grow as a player and person, and that it may have opened his eyes to the ceiling for his own potential. Hard to expect more than what he did in these playoffs, but if he’s 100% focused what a force he could be.

probably because of all the guys who played for the grizzlies being on the team

and the nice weather

TheParadox

Yeah baby! So proud of the Giants! They got it done in dominating fashion. This was really sweet! Let’s repeat next season!

TheParadox

Sign Timmy to a long term contract. He proved his worth with those key relief appearances. He still has filthy stuff. Help him get his confidence back and fix his mechanics. We will have Cy Young Timmy back next year. Think about it.. the Giants got it done with Timmy as one of their World Series starters. Wow!

Peter

Sports Reporter at 9:50 am

LOL. Let guess the thoughts: “A good manager would have won it in three”.

i still think Timmy’s a starter…but, perhaps during those hot humid months, a few stints from the bp might be the ticket?

not that i don’t think he could tough it out, but, he’s a northwest guy who thrives in cool damp weather.

i say, go w/ the flow; keep him in his element–it’s win/win for him and for the team.

E-B

@Paradox.

i’d like to add to your post: we wouldn’t even reach the WS, much less the NLCS w/out Timmy’s band-aid relief in game 4 of NLDS. Period.

he’s as much a part of the pitching success this year as the starters.

in fact, i believe that pitching in the postseason will change as a result of this year’s results. we might see teams putting their SO ace in the bullpen as a ‘swing pitcher’ weapon (assuming they have a Tim Lincecum on their staff…hmm….?)

E-B

@Lefty. enjoyed your initial postgame thoughts; some of those were my favs too.

something about seeing/hearing/watching The Riot growling w/ pure joy was probably one of my fav moments of the entire season…

but then there’s game 7 of NLCS…

but …

ok, nuff.

gotta get some work done now
=========================

over and out

Skweezplay

Entering the World Series, the Giants were HUGE underdogs to Detroit, according to the sports books. Verlander was gonna be able to pitch twice for sure and maybe three times, and their lineup was clearly stronger.

Beating Verlander in the opener just turned all of that to dust, and I think Detroit’s confidence was significantly shaken. Losing the second game to a MadBum gem established the pattern, and having the off day to stew on it wasn’t good for Detrioit at all.

Winning the third game, though, was the key. Had Detroit managed to win the third game, they would have made it a series. They would have known Verlander was getting another start, and they would have only been down one game going into game four.

Game three was the key. Being down 3-0 was a hopeless position.

Not much has been written here about the important role Tim Lincecum played in this whole thing, but especially in game three. For Lincecum to be able to come in in a tight little spot and get the last out of the sixth was huge in itself. But then to be able to cruise through the seventh and the eighth and hand it over to Romo was spectacular.

Outs in playoff games are what? ten times harder to get than in the regular season? Starters who usually go six or seven innings are sometimes done in the second, third, or fourth. Getting through the fifth is really good, getting the sixth is excellent, pitching at least part of the seventh is dominant.

Vogelsong ran into some trouble, and Lincecum comes in (as he did for Zito in game one) and just starts mowing people down.

If I would have had an MVP vote, I very likely would have voted for Lincecum.

As a Giants season ticket holder since AT&T Park opened, all I can say is WOW! and thank you for the greatest week of baseball in my life. It’s hard to imagine that 10 days ago, I was chatting with a friend on the afternoon of Barry’s game 5 start vs STL. I brought up how Josh Beckett pitched in game 5 of 2007 ALCS when he just shut down the Indians, got the series back to Boston and the Red Sox rolled through games 6 and 7 and a World Series sweep. My friend noted that the 2012 Zito was not the kind of dominant pitcher Beckett was in 2007. I said that he didn’t really need to be, he just needed to give the Giants a chance to win and play at home. Well Zito was dominant that night and just like those 2007 Red Sox the Giants routed their championship series opponent in the two remaining games and swept the World Series.

Witnessing the Giants win the pennant at home and the Panda’s historic 3 homerun performance was absolutely wonderful. I thought we might be in for a special ride this season when Matt Cain came within a single by the opposing pitcher of throwing an opening day perfect game. Who would have thought he’d deliver a perfect-perfecto two months later.

I’d like to give a shout out to one of my favorite Giants – Jeremy Affeldt. Relievers can be prone to ups and downs from season to season but this guy has just been great in his time here. Remember the two shutout innings he delivered after the benches cleared in game 6 in Philly in 2010? Without that performance, which restored order to a game that threatened to get out of hand in more ways than one, we might not be talking about 2 WS championships in three years. And last night, there was blowing through the middle of the Tiger order in brutally efficient fashion.

Thanks to the Giants for an incredible, an incredible month and an incredible season!

Call it bias if you want (the little brains will, undoubtedly), but it does bother me that the pundits are giving Bochy too much credit for using Lincecum out of the pen. It’s like Game 4 of the NLCS never happened.

Anti-Lasorda

I publicly must eat a little crow and offer and apology.

In April, I suggested we raise a fund to bribe Pavs to throw a bar of soap in Barry Zito’s shower stall so he might slip on it…. it was in jest but like many I felt Zito was a sunk cost….. and was occupying a spot in the rotation that may have better been served with Eric Surkamp or later Brad Penny or …. anybody but #75.

Without question, we are where we are today, feeling the way we do today because of Barry Zito. Krukow went so far as to mention the unicorn hour’s magic cupcakes and called Zito the ‘soul of the team’.

I love this team more than any other Giants squad I have had the joy of watchin in my 40 odd years. And this team was Barry Zito’s….

I’m sorry #75…. and thank-you for 2012. This championship is because of you…………………

Woj

Congrats today as well to guys that made contributions such as Schierholtz, Pill, & Melky who contributed as much as he was allowed to the Giants World Championship. Please consider re-signing with the Giants but I defintely don’t expect you to do so after the hypocritical treatment of tyhe ownership (see Mota, 2-time PEDer).

LOL, it bothers me No Sink Edelfsen gets a ring too.

Lance Newberry

How can something that in the bigger scheme of things mean nothing at all, mean SO MUCH?

There is no rational answer to that, but boy oh boy it sure feels good.

After wandering around 3rd & King last night after the game soaking up the feeling (and watching the youthful foolishness of trashing things just because you can), for the second time in three years I stopped at the dark & deserted Candlestick Park and lifted a toast and gave a victory whoop to that old hulk, which for so many of us represents exactly why this all feels so good.

Like so many others I grew up in that massive, usually freezing place and I fell in love with the Giants there, and had my heart broken so many times over so many years there, and I shook there in ’89 and it stood tall for all of us who were in the building that crazy day.

For me Candlestick will always be so much of everything that is San Francisco Giants baseball, and even while dark, alone and forgotten in the joyous celebration raging just a few miles away, Candlestick Park shares in this great victory.

The pathetic yet brilliant wisdom cow has a better chance of retiring than does Mr. Bochy. Give it up Oh Udder One. Do what you do best and read what people in the know actually know that is that although he has flaws that you don’t, He manages a regular season in such a way so as if they get to post season they are honed of steel. People would respect you if you gave up on your stupid vendetta. Peter was right, another manager would have won the WS in three games. Your pain you speak about is self inflicted.

3rdKING

Barry Zito…what a story…

in the immortal words of coach jimmy v

DONT GIVE UP, DON’T EVER GIVE UP….

wow,,,you could argue his heart drove this year….not just this year

Go Giants

Noce

I though you might find this amusing. Its suppose to be a real picture. One never knows.

Lot of people talking storm today. Consider this: Buster Posey is the eye of the SF storm.

2010 World Champs, as the saying goes, was a team made up of cast-offs and misfits ~ odds and ends from throughout baseball whom Brian Sabean had picked up in his perambulations ~ finishing off that talented inner core of homegrown pitchers was this bunch of has beens and never was types, but all good for one last hurrah. And hurrah it was.

Today’s Champs are not utterly unlike those of a couple years back. But they might better be titled a bunch of weirdos and goofballs. Think WS MVP El Gordo Panda. Think bearded wonder two, the Closer it gets Romo. Think Zen Zicasso Zito. Think the slight, skinny, pot-smoking biracial skater dude from Seattle who sports the speed limit on his back. Think that tandem tag team twosome of too tall Texans, Popeye Pence and the Brandon with the cartoonishly goofy smile. Weirdos and goofballs all.

Then consider that right at the epicenter of all this strangeness and high jinx, the sturdy buttoned-down professionalism of the odds on favorite for league MVP. Cool, calculating and composed, Buster Posey is a study in steady. He is that solid stone in the middle of all this craziness that makes up the 2012 World Champs.

Buster Posey is the eye of the Giants storm.

Skweezplay

BoSox Fan: Great stuff about Affeldt.

I was thinking about Carl Hubbell striking out all those AL legends as Affeldt just destroyed the heart of the Tigers’ lineup last night.

Great call.

channelclemente

Clutchup.

I want to thank you for being Jobu’s flag man. The only thing else that seems important to say is:

Just returned from the corner market in HMB 94019. Have one extra super glossy SFChronicle news rack edition if any outta towners want a copy!

DoggieBag

YESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sweep!!!!

Looks like Detroit wasn’t ANYTHING anyone thought they would be…

Including me! 😉

Absolutely amazing, crushing and clutch team play in the whole post season!!!

Had to listen to yesterday’s game while traveling and will watch it today.

WHAT A WAY TO WIN!!!!!!

#AntiTigerHypeMachine

ClutchUp

TWC, it wasn’t the WS but Pence made a sliding catch in the SL/Cincy series with the ball first hitting his bare hand, and another sliding catch while sliding up against the outfield wall. No specifics tho….

Foothills Ryan

Clutch,

are you a gamer “Babe”?

Foothills Ryan

I sincerely hope Miguel Cabrera does not go on a whiskey drinking binge. I prithee he has the sense to at least get a designated driver.

Matthew

I could wax poetic about all of the many years as a fan… And likely will later as I gather my thoughts.

But, a shout out to the opposition. Jim Leyland is a class act. The best concession speech, Manager division ever.

He may well get in and it makes me wonder about managers in the HOF, being that it is clearly results driven, where results are not directly linked to managing.

Don’t get me wrong. The “in-house” non-roster aspects, which are clearly a big part of the job, are more than correlationally related to results. I don’t doubt Bochy at all as a cog in the Giant machine, and I give him much credit for getting out of the way in the post season (which he’d admit – as characterized after NLCS game 4 LU tinkering).

He did a fine job. Had it been Bochy’s speech they all spoke of instead of Pence’s, I’d be leaning further towards changing my opinion of him. I’d be willing to give him more credit, and people might be able to convince me of a HOF vote. I’m still not ready to go that far.

I thought you “25 MVPs” post was far more on target for this run than those giving so much credit to Bochy.

I will, however, spend some time contemplating on whether Bochy deserves more credit than I give him for what his assistants do. Should Bochy get more props for letting Raggs work with MadBum? That kind of thing. Because I see Raggs as the key to that, where I’ll admit I should reconsider the extent Bochy should be given credit for it as well.

I hope that made sense. Those that respond tend to over simplify my opinion of Bochy as hate. It’s tough for me to drop the “in spite” opinion when things like giving up on Belt to try Pablo at first get stopped by a fortuitous injury of sorts, or when Game 4 of the NLCS is just forgotten because Zito turned the tide.

CU, ty, I thought he did early but couldn’t remember. I kept recalling the non-catch that people ripped him for.

How amazing is that? I want to see a video of the defensive highlights from the entire post season that notes that every position player had a gem, maybe a cut to the LU card, zooming to each name before showing their contribution. That would be awesome.

ibshimo2

First, I would also like to thank Alex. Being another that is ‘out-of-market’ (actually, ‘out-of-country’), checking this blog was a pleasure and kept me connected to the SF Giant experience.

I had two thoughts when the playoffs started, two thoughts I never said aloud because I was afraid of the jinx.

Thought Number One: I thought that the first series could be the toughest. It was the only series in which the Giants were assured to not have home-field advantage, and of course they would have home-field advantage in the World Series. I also thought the American League teams were not the threat that the National League teams were.

Thought Number Two: I thought the Giants’ real chance for a World Series was in 2013! In my mind 2012 was ‘house money.’ I figured that both Sandoval and Lincecum would get in better shape/figure things out, but that they would need the entire offseason. Plus, Wilson would be back, and the two Brandons would be more comfortable and produce from the outset. I thought the Giants would likely fall short this year, and then hopefully win it all next year. Now, happily, I’m in a state of disbelief and don’t know what to think.

channelclemente

There were a ton of memorable plays and players in this playoff run (that fact defines this Giants Team), but the guy who stuck out to me as the guy who cemented his place on the Giants roster for the future was Crawford. Just think back to his April and May, and look at his play in these playoff games. He goes from Mr. Error hitting 0.195, to a GG quality SS hitting 0.250. Add to that his bunt in the final inning defines the Giants as a team.

channelclemente

Cow,

fair deal.

Foothills Ryan

I think one of Bochy’s greatest strengths is that he let’s his coaches coach and values their input. The Coaches are a TEAM in the same essence the players are a TEAM. Bochy has a tremendous cast and perhaps one of his greatest assets I perceive is that he does not micro-manage.

He’s also a calming, steady influence. Plays the chess game of baseball better than anybody and as Krukow touted this morning, he does not put himself before the team or the game. He’s the anti-Valentine/Guillen.

He’s pretty much the best. You can argue about others, but he’s in that rarefied cadre of the games best skippers – now, and at this rate, historically.

San Francisco Melky Cheaters

just proves that in this artificial sport you can market and cheat with a player for about 110 games and act like you are winners

channelclemente

For the addicts, the Baseball Winter Meetings are in Orlando, and the moves are starting. Stay tuned!

2012 however you may view it will be seen as the giants with melky cabrera

this is permanent scare and stain on this world series

and that’s the complete cold hard truth

Keep’n It Real

Question: Did anyone else notice the awkwardness between Baer and Selig during the trophy presentation? I couldn’t help but think this is a reflection of Bud trying to get his buddy (Wolff) into San Jose. Baer did not look happy.

The beauty of it is that this guy that would not have gotten a chance had a reasonable alternative existed may well end up having a long and prosperous career with the team he grew up rooting for.

I’d also throw out there that this WS is going to be the reason Crawford and Belt end up getting gold gloves. Everyone knows it is often a popularity contest. Guys that deserve consideration often don’t even get mentioned, while a big bat with a reasonable glove gets the award. Now, both will be mentioned and considered because they got time in the spotlight.

Footy, that’s what I’m going to think on, but I’d put a asterisk on that “does not micro-manage” part. The LU tinkering and R/L abuse of the regular season has to fall into the category to some extent, but I believe you were writing of other aspects.

I’m gonna shut up for a while and just read and enjoy.

San Francisco Melky Cheaters

thank god melky cabrera was the reason why you won a world series

San Francisco Melky Cheaters

if melky wasn’t on the team most of the year ….giants wouldn’t even be in the position to win a world series

thank you melky

San Francisco Melky Cheaters

I am so happy we can now all agree that they cheated big time with melky

Anti-Lasorda

channelclemente says:
October 29th, 2012 at 12:07 pm 126..There were a ton of memorable plays and players in this playoff run (that fact defines this Giants Team), but the guy who stuck out to me as the guy who cemented his place on the Giants roster for the future was Crawford. Just think back to his April and May, and look at his play in these playoff games. He goes from Mr. Error hitting 0.195, to a GG quality SS hitting 0.250. Add to that his bunt in the final inning defines the Giants as a team.

———————————————————————————

Channel,

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In my house Crawdad was WS MVP. He had a critical play in EVERY game unlike Panda. Whether it was the jumping snare in Game 1, putting the ball in play in Game 2 to get the game winning run home, singling home Blanco in Game 3 for the insurance to let Vogey relax or the DP turn and critical 1st pitch bunt in game 4.

It’s early and all, but I want to start the Ryan Vogelsong Opening Day 2013 Starter Lobby.

He was awesome in 2012 – had a hiccup, but was the Ace of the staff when it mattered most. Epic postseason run for one of the game’s best comeback stories – ever.

channelclemente

I wonder if any of the Kieth Law acolytes have thought to tweet him wishing him well as he recovers from getting his foot surgically removed from his mouth.

Primetimedonna

Alex, want to add my thanks to you for a fantastic year of reporting on our Giants. You’ve always been honest, yet fair and have covered the players as human beings as well as ballplayers. Your insight, and your humor have added much to your coverage. Kudos to you!!

San Francisco Melky Cheaters

let’s review the first 110 games of the year and how melky was vital to them cheating to victory?

Love you babe, but you’re going to have to pick a new avatar for next year. Huff will take his 2 rings, and an extra $2M going away present and not be a part of 2013. I wish him the best in retirement. Of course, he might have a SLIM chance of giving DH a go for the Rays on a bargain basement contract.

Tampa needs a DH bad, it’s close to his house in Fla. AND it’s where it all started for him. Hopfeully him and Baubi have mended their fences…..

Anti-Lasorda

Anybody up for tweeting Mrs. Affeldt for another little boy for 2013?

Anti-Lasorda

BTW: Affeldt kids are born in August, so they make up for lost time once Jeremy is home…. (that gives her about 6 weeks to start planning……)

Foothills Ryan

Anti-Lasorda,

As a fan with a keen sense of the money numbers,

do you think this World Series victory will propel the 2013 OD Payroll to 150 million?

Foothills Ryan

I think I’ll start working my payroll/roster projection this evening. Get out the early edition. MLBtraderumors has the arbitration estimates available. Nothing cute for volume 1 – just bring back the boys back (most of them anyway) for somewhere in the 140 million dollar ballpark.

Keith W.

So if Zito has a similar year in 2013 as he had in 2012, do the Giants pick up his 2014 option? He has an 18 MM option for 2014 or a 7 MM buyout. If he puts up 2012 numbers next year, it seems he would be in line for about an 11 MM salary in 2014. So in that scenario, should the option be picked up?

ClutchUp

This is never a good item to bring up now that Infante suffered a broken bone — but many of you with better memories — seem to know — which opposing players have “gone down” under SF’s watch during the course of 2012.

@SFMelkyCheaters: Holy Moly: Have you read the Mitchell report; Enhancing Helpers are on all 30 teams. Give me YOUR team, and I’ll send you the list of offenders for YOUR team.

Remember the Gagne 100 mph Fast ball that Bonds hit foul? The next one was 101 and Bonds almost hit in onto Highway 101. Gagne was on the MoosieJucie that night as was 25. What’s your point? Players who played in the so called Golden Age of Baseball took Uppers then Downers. They were called “Beans” or Greenies” and were located on a table with six pots of Coffee for the players. The PILLS sat openly in a HUGE candy dish.

FP Santangelo played for Expos, SF, LAD and Oak. He used and abused. He fessed up to it. PED’s don’t make guys like FP a star. He was average on and off the junk.

Heh Heh Heh

Primetimedonna

Anti

LOL! Actually the Avatar is much of why I haven’t been around.

Doubt he’ll sign on anywhere, time for a new phase in his life to begin be it some kind of announcing, analyzing, talk show, opening a gallery and displaying and selling his landscape paintings or singing country music around the house. Baseball, not so much!! Time to take the 2 rings and call it a career.

Good news is that he and Baubi appear to have mended fences. She and the boys are with him and coming to the games again. Hopefully they will have the time to work on the family.

Had to laugh with your memo to Mrs. Affeldt. Maybe that’s where Huff went wrong……his little guy was born in September 2010. Maybe a 3rd little guy born last year or this year might have helped?

My last post on him, but can’t promise about the avatar…….maybe just need to stay away again. ;>)

All star closer injured for the season plus
starting catcher returning from devastating injury plus
starting second baseman injured for the season plus
all star left fielder suspended for PEDs plus
all star ace starter has worst year of his life plus
starting 1B amd CF suffer horrible mid season slumps plus
starting shortstop has first half fielding slump plus
replacement closer gets beat up and loses role plus
all starters are fatigued in second half of season plus
manager changes lineup and relief pitchers at alarming rate equals

stunning comebacks in division and league championship series and a four game world series sweep

I’m old school but I definitley like the new math!

Lefty

Prime Time Donna: Huff helped bring us our first World Series title ever, and we will never forget. The #17 jersey I bought my husband in 2010 was part of our “Giants altar” we had around the TV during this season’s playoffs. I was hoping he’d have a great moment in the postseason this year and wish him and his young family all the best. Keep your avatar as long as you want. If anyone bothers you, the rest of us with deal with them!

Foothills Ryan

Too many MVP’s to count on this TEAM

How big was Angel Pagan this year?

29 SB, led all of baseball with 15 triples. Second on the club in extra base hits : 61 to Posey’s 64.

Would he take a discount to play three more years for the world champs or cash in on a 5 year deal that the Giants cannot and will not match?

Mavo

Thanks again for all of you who gave me a shout out! My birthday is about 5 weeks from now … but what an early present my Giants gave me!!! We are thinking about going across the street to greet the team when they get back from Detroit.

Still on Cloud 9 today!!!

ClutchUp

Anti: Actually I disagree. PTD should stick with the guy she “brung to the dance”. Her avatar probably WILL and should remain Huff forever more. She never wavered even when people with moronic intelligence wrote dispicable things about him that should have been off base. That includes Mr. Jeopardy Guy. People said he stole money. People said Zito stole money. Before Buster became the 2010 regular and before Ross, Burrell, Loogy Lopez, Ramirez (and Guillen) Huff carried the team offensively in early 2010.

The only person who “stole” money literally was Robin O’Connor who embezzled $2.2 million from the team and its players and is spending 21 months in prison. O”Connor made about 40 separate illegal transactions, changing payroll records and stealing employees’ identities and diverting their tax payments.

Primetimedonna

Lefty

Thanks! ;>)

I know his faults and was also hoping for “a moment” that didn’t come. Actually proud of Bochy et al for keeping him and Mota on the roster “for old times sake”. Didn’t hurt us, good for them, and nice end to their careers. Know I’m loyal to a fault, but what can I say! Love the ENTIRE Team (my sign up was usually Go Giants ALL Giants). Thanks for your kind words!

Lefty

I have work to do, but I’m having trouble settling down for long. I was curious to see the crow-eating/mea culpas from all the national writers who scornfully gave the Giants no chance in the World Series. And there are some.

Worst Crow-Eating:
Bob Nightengale, USA Today, who–after predicting a “public thrashing” of the Giants by the Tigers and saying (mockingly) “the wine and cheese party with Tony Bennett crooning in the background is over”–thought that a great way to acknowledge the Giants’ sweep was by pointing out how they’re like the Yankees now (even to discussing Sabean’s Yankee ties).

(Dis)honorable Mention: The idiot Bleacher Report article someone linked last night saying how the World Series sucked and “true baseball fans” “deserved better.” It also said that “momentum” beat “more talent.”

I still think they will target the $142 – $145M dollar payroll. Baer will hold back the additional $7M in payroll flexibility caused by the WS run as a ‘rainy day fund’. That’s what my gut tells me….

I think enabling Sabean with that playoff windfall is what gort Neukom replaced so IMO we’ll get some additional flexibility (i had previously forecasted a $142M budget), but I would be suprised if it’s over $145M.

Of course, I think that depends what the Codgers do down south. They sign Greinke, maybe pick up Haren from the Halos and fortify their rotation there could be a little more funds freed up for left field.

I really expect to have it nailed down by the end of this week. IMO, before the weekend, during the exclusive window the Affeldt, Scutaro and Pagan extensions should be talked about with on or more being done by Saturday. I would guess Affeldt and Scutaro (the old guys) should be the quickest to do and the most keen to sacrifice $$$ for clubhouse.

Pagan will be the most interesting to watch, and I think he’ll test and resign after the the winter meetings for more than Huff money, I’m thinking along the 3 years for $39M type numbers at a minimum. This is his only chance at the big money, he’s going to try to do all he can. And I think he may leave over the 4th or 5th year being guarenteed like Uribe did post 2010. That could set up a chain of events that could make the club chase someone like Upton and hit $150M, but that would be for even longer years and I don’t think the club will find that appealing given a choice. Besides, Arizona just cleared Chris Young out of the way to have BJ play CF in Az. (If you believe the trade Justin talk from the desert I think you’re crazy)

The victory has doomed Cabrera in my mind. Unless you publiclly hear some HUGE mea culpa this week, it’s done for all but some killer under $4M incentive based deal in 2013. Same might be thought of for Wilson if he insists on being tendered (He’s I’m going to be me 100% in ST was posturing for the 2013 contract), but the $6M hit is pennies in the grand scheme and I think the find a common ground somehow before the deadline to file.

I dunno, even if I was Sabean, and identifying the clubs needs LF, CF, closer (I love Romo, but I don’t think he would hold up in the role for 75+ innings) I dunno if there are enough ‘fit’ options to put the payroll over $150M unless you talk about added a pro arm from someone like Haren and have Timmy close (which is what I would do)…. Both Sabean and Bochy public came out during the WS and said that ain’t happneing for the $22M he’s owed. So I just don’t see it.

And no, Josh Hamilton would NOT fit in this clubhouse…. not even with Posey and Bumgarner to help baby sit him.

~YMMV

channelclemente

Lefty,

was that you over on Fangraphs? As one can tell, they are a very sensitive crowd after COMPLETELY blowing the WS prediction. The article today looking in to the Giants win could have just as well been written prior to the series, but not if you’ve approached the series with a bias.

I’ve been ready since Oct 1… anytime you want to start the hot stove, I’ll start to play. 😉

channelclemente

Anti,

go l;ook over at SN, it seems both Hamilton and Cabrera are already on target lists.

Lefty

Oh, and speaking of idiot Bleacher Report articles (and yes, I know that’s redundant), I loved the one someone linked above comparing the Giants to the Phillies and concluding that the Phillies are a better team. Hilarious!

Right before the World Series, someone wrote another one: What if the Cardinals hadn’t choked? Here’s how they would have matched up with the Tigers!

Obviously–when the Cards went up 3-1, this “writer” (to use the term loosely) prewrote his World Series matchup article, and when the stupid Giants ruined everything, he didn’t want to waste his efforts, so he published this “Field of Dreams” version anyway. Ridiculous.

It will be an interesting off season. After the Giants won in 2010, Sabean brought back everyone but Uribe (is he still with the LAD) but I believe some change is necessary. Exactly what changes depends on how much every one whats in term of contracts.

Do you bring back Pence at $14M? Too much. Half of that? Closer to actual value.

Do you bring back Affeldt at $5M? I love what Lopaz does but I would trade him and bring back Affeldt. Affeldt can do more for the team but I can’t see affording both of them. You can’t trade Affeldt because he is a free agent and there are teams that needs a Lopaz type of pitcher. The Giants got Kontos for Stewart so it pays not to just let players go.

I would like to see Posey move off the catcher’s position. Joe Torre moved to 3rd, others have moved to other positions but Posey is too valuable as an elite hitter to further risk injury at catcher. Sanchez showed he can be a solid catcher and hitter and he also needs to play. Move Posey to 3rd and Panda to left or leave Panda at 3rd and move Buster to left. Belt is too good to move off of first.

Bring back Sutaro, no brainer. Bring back Melky? The players should not be angry after all they won but it depends on the price. Can you imagine a lineup with Sutaro, Melky, Posey, Panda batting 2-5? What about Pagan? I don’t like his ego, kind of reminds me of a New Yorker with his arrogance and brashness. He is not really a leadoff hitter and if you go back over his season, he is very streaky. His defense got better as the year went along. Again I think it depends on the price.

It is important to continue bringing in young players who perform greater than their contracts. The Giants don’t win this year without their youngsters who cost very little. Now the team will have to start paying Posey and Madbum closer to their true value. The team needs to continue bringing youngsters like the Brandons and Sanchez who bring value greater than their contracts in order to keep the winning ways.

And find some more forgotten players who have fallen through the cracks but can add value to the team. Last year it was Vogey, this year is was Arias and Blanco. Next year it may be ????

Last, the Giants are a winning franchise. Players want to play for a winning team. Don’t be afraid to see what players what to play for the Giants. There might be some gold nuggets just waiting for a chance to join the Giants this off season and try to earn a ring next season. They may not be too concerned with how much they get paid, they just want to win.

Foothills Ryan

A-L,

My gut (& rational mind) says Pagan will go for the best contract he can get. Why not? 3/30 and maybe with an option and buy out should be the absolute ceiling for the Giants, but somebody may offer him 50 million guaranteed.

I can see Affeldt and Scutaro content to wind their careers down in the bay area. Hopefully Affeldt is content going year to year.

But Pagan going elsewhere sure does create a vacuum – maybe just a window of opportunity for Blanco and Gary Brown. And maybe a crease for guys like Peguero and Kieschnick.

If Pagan does come back, Blanco deserves the LF nod.

For now, they’re all Giants and still wearing orange and black.

channelclemente

Several folks have suggested that bringing back the same or a nearly identical LU for the Giants is a “no brainer”. I’d invite you to reflect on how many of the current roster players were on the 2010 club. We can expect the same kind of impetus for turnover and replacement and improvement going forward, I would speculate.

Lefty

Sabean has interesting decisions to make, and he’ll have to make them fast. They have to try to extend their free agents within five days and in the same time frame decide if they’re giving anyone qualifying offers (like Melky).

After 2010, they leaned toward bringing everyone back and got everyone except Uribe–and they tried to get him (thank goodness they didn’t–heh, heh, heh). The strategy backfired in 2011; many of those players were having their last/only hurrah in 2010, and they couldn’t sustain it. Thus we had only one position player (Buster) in the starting lineup for both the 2010 and 2012 World Series (and only three total, with Pablo and Huff).

I see no downside to bringing back Scutaro. He’ll be 37 tomorrow and can’t possibly be expecting a super-long deal. Two years would be perfect. That gives Panik another full year in the minors, and maybe he’s even on the big club in 2014 being mentored by Scutaro before taking over in 2015. Panik, young as he is, seems a similar-type hitter to Scutaro.

Same with Affeldt. They’ve got to have him back, even if it means trading one of the two LOOGYs (Mijares or Lopez). They need bullpen depth, especially if they don’t go after a closer and role the dice again with in-house options (Wilson, Romo, maybe Hembree if he’s ready).

Angel is the tough one. As you all have said, this is his first and only big free-agent contract. He has a family to support, and other teams will want him. He’s going to want at least 4-5 years, and someone will give it to him. I don’t expect a hometown discount from him, so it will be interesting to see if the Giants want him badly enough to pay what it will cost–and if in the long run we’ll be happy about it. Really hard to tell at this moment.

I think they will keep Pence, but I don’t know about Wilson. Romo was seriously good in the postseason. Remember how before the playoffs we were saying that the Giants were really going to miss Wilson? Yeah, not so much. Maybe partly because there weren’t so many tight games as in 2010–Romo had only four save opps in the whole 2010 postseason (converting them all)–but the bullpen stepped up HUGE, especially Romo, Affeldt, and Timmy.

Foothills Ryan

CC,

I’ve reflected on the contract status and ease of signability of the World Series lineup, rotation and bullpen and concluded that this may be one of the easiest offseasons for a GM in recent history.

Like I said, Pagan will be the most difficult case.

Unless you want to entertain trading Lincecum and Sandoval whose respective values up, way up from where they were a month or so ago.

Sabes could get fancy. After losing out on Pagan, he could trade Gary Brown and Mike Kickham to Cleveland for Shin Soo Choo and Chris Perez.

But I think Sabes is going to K.I.S.S. & keep the group in tact.

Anti-Lasorda

Channel,

I checked SN, I couldn’t find the Gs off season scuttlebutt up yet. Did see the piece on Melky and the Mets. Makes sense for both teams…

Con – when I try to give a higher (personally subjective – the issue, ultimately) value to hands off or non-micro-managing, as in letting/relying on the assistant coaches to do what’s needed, I have trouble thinking the credit then goes to Bochy so much as it goes to Sabean, who put together all the components including Bochy.

This, however, is by no means a deal breaker. I’d note, too, that this may fall into a “bias” category again (though I think it is logically sound) as I have long held Sabean in a much higher regard than Bochy, more than once writing that Bochy was Sabean’s biggest error which I can clearly state, based on the above reasoning, was WRONG (presuming one takes that perspective where the GM deserves more credit for a compartmentalized managerial paradigm).

Cut and paste that, CU. I admitted a wrong for a long held belief.

————————–

Pro – I also initially struggled with my personal idea of “HOF manager,” which I define as a manager that can be given just about any roster and maximize the possibilities rather than shoehorn them into a limited in scope style of play the manager is more comfortable with. When I think “manager,” I take that perspective as well, and have had a hard time seeing Bochy that way at all.

Now, even though arguments exist that significant forces outside of choice lead Bochy there, he did, in fact, go with DEFENSE over marginally improved offense for the entire post season save Game 4 of the NLCS, and he did so in all of the elimination games. This has NEVER been his style up to now, and he must be given props for it.

Now, if he has an opportunity to continue chosing to value defense next season, in the absence of compelling outside influence like injuries or inept alternatives, I will most certainly be influenced in further altering my opinion. [Again, CU, feel free to cut and paste, to be used as evidence against me next season if Bochy does go with D and I fail to acknowledge it.]

——————————————

Not done contemplating, though I will be switching toward off season moves soon enough (hard to believe Scutaro is not a Giant right now, eh?), but I cannot say my opinion of Bochy has change all that much.

I still want a guy that chooses to go with promising youth over “vets.” I still think Bochy is good (okay, maybe very good), but not great. I see him as a cog, but one that did his job.

I don’t think this WS was won In Spite of Bochy, as I did 2010, but I still think the players get most of the credit, then Sabean, then Bochy.

And I don’t think I will be able to forget that fortune did shine on the Giants again in this post season, Dusty’s brain farts and Scott Rolen’s error in NLDS Game 3, and Zito’s incredible NLCS Game 5 – which I consider the greatest, most inspiring pitching performance I ever witnessed, having not seen the Spahn v. Marichal duel.

Foothills Ryan

no qualifying offer to Melky. I think a Q.O. is 13.3 mil .

Anti-Lasorda

Footy,

Choo – NO!

Perez, yes please……

Foothills Ryan

What’s funny, sad, ironic is that Brian Sabean and Co. have next to zero time to enjoy the moment and bask in the glow of another championship.

They are on the phones and in strategy room and laying ground work for offers to their players.

Tough job.

Anti-Lasorda

Cow in some serious self actualization about his feelings and Bochy… amusing.

If not for Scott Cousins, and playing Cabrera last year we could be talking about three-peat without arguing anything….

Anti-Lasorda

Footy,

Startegy meeting should have been going on during the playoffs with some minor tweaks…. the 162 game needs haven’t changed no matter how you played over a 20 game sample size.

The only thing that has to be done is letting Bochy give his two cents on Thursday. The plan should be laid out in pencil already.

Caught back up on the reading I missed while writing the above marathon.

Lefty ++++ abound. Scutaro for 2 years at slightly above market value would be ideal, hopefully for both parties. He gets the sugar Huff got, only he will probably put up numbers to justify it.

The hot stove is going to be fun. I also agree the owners will use a “rainy day fund” / mid season acquisition to not go with as high of a payroll as we would like, but I’m cool with that. They can’t scrimp like they would have without the WS.

Last, we should be sure to go about our hot stove ruminations like Sabean shall, meaning we have to figure out plans with the arbitration spots first.

Pence is a key to everything. Before the post season, I thought he would forgo Arb for a reasonable 2 year deal (maybe 11mil/per) or possibly going 3 years (10 mil/per, though I hoped for 8), that perhaps was lower guaranteed money but with realistically attainable incentive clauses.

Now, between his clear joy with the team and how VERY much he fits SF, the city, with his scooter commutes, I think the Giants can lock him up for 3-4 years at a low(ish) rate, adding incentive clauses, possibly even making that 4th year an option year with a buyout.

Sabean should strike while the good vibes are hot, before his agent can talk him into just going with arbitration. The more money they save on Pence, the more tempting it will become to bid on a FA starter to bolster the rotation and keep the option open at Tim in the bullpen (Oh R’hllor, I so want to see those 2-3 dominating innings every 2-3 days throughout a season!).

Affeldt – oh crap, did his stock go up. I hope he likes it here.
Pagan – I expect the Giants to get outbid, but he may take less to return, knowing what the opposite of a Giant clubhouse experience is from his time with the Mets.
Theriot – I offer another 1yr/1.25 maybe 1.5
Mota – bye bye, non-roster invitee at best

Freddy Sanchez – hmmm, I’d love for him to take the league minimum and continue rehab.

Foothills Ryan

Block-Buster Deal : 5-10-15-20-25-25-25-25 = 8/150 million

Foothills Ryan

Absolutely bring back Theriot.

Rotate him in to keep Scutaro fresh for postseason 2013 !

DH Theriot in inter-league !!

Anti-Lasorda

Nothing against Koreans….

Chan Ho Park could sure serve them up to #25 with the best of them….

I don’t like Choo, and if the club can’t get Pagan to agreeable terms we already have the LH hitting CF. His name is Blanco. We need the RH compliment.

I do think they will work something out with Wheezy, but I do think they will try to pinch pennies off of the $6.5M guarentee….. Something along the lines of $4M plus incentives upto $10M if he gets 40 saves and pitches 70 innings.

I think Pence is in the same park as Pagan 3 for $36-39M maybe an option 4th in the $14-$15M dollar range. I think they offer the option to Pagan, not to Pence.

My prediction on Pence 3 for $39M
2013: $11M 2014: $13M 2015: $15M

If Pence doesn’t accept, he’ll take his $12-13M in arbitration and we’ll go from there during the spring. That could happen as they iron out the details and use the arb process to help broker the deal establishing the baseline number.

My crystal is real hazy here. I think he will get a 5 year offer from someone. Don’t know if he will be willing to turn it down. Maybe the club structures 2 option years at the end to get to 5 for $60M….. If Pagan says no, options become Bourn (most likely) and Upton. Will force Sabean to find RH compliment to Blanco in case Bourn signs elsewhere.

~YMMV

Noce

To me being a member of the national press or MLB Network is like trying to finish in the top 8 of American Idol. You have to keep saying something to keep the judges in the case the public interested. And you have to say in such a way to make it memorable. The one pearl of wisdom I remember most was from my least favorite analyst Mitch Williams before game 3. “If the Tigers don’t win this next game they are in deep trouble”. Duh Ya think. But what made me laugh was the seriousness in how he said it. The context of his statement was hey listen up what I am saying is important and ground breaking.

What we have to remember here is I don’t care what they say. I don’t read them unless one of you sites a link. I don’t have time or interest. Their public seems to be the eastern seaboard fan base. I am not who they are marketing too. Their market wants excuses or reasons for what happened. Those analysts need to make their market feel good to keep them listening and hence paying for the advertisers. So they predict victory and then give excuses for results, ie luck.

If you review their profiles there are very few of them from small market teams or anything west of the Rockies. The funny thing is Harold Reynolds is the one middle of the road analysts and lo and behold he spent most of his career in Seatle. Go figure.

I much prefer reading many of you on this blog. Alex, Stewart and before them Baggs do a nice in depth analysis. When it comes to the national media remember high school and how much work the popular kid had to do to stay popular. When I attend the reunions I find most don’t pay attention to them any more and I don’t pay attention to the national media.

Anti-Lasorda

Interleague DH will be—- Fat Panda!

I like Theriot, hope he comes back, see him looking for playing time after Scutaro signs, which is too bad. Maybe Cow’s idea of Freddy filling that role for 2013 on a $1M flyer isn’t a bad idea.

I don’t know where I stand on Pagan. If he loses his speed, he’ll lose A LOT. I wouldn’t want to go past 4 years for sure, and I won’t be happy with 4 years unless the price was really good.

Because of that, I just can’t imagine him not going elsewhere. With Blanco being very capable to handle CF defense and Brown in the pipeline, I can’t put near the organizational need value on Pagan as I am sure some team out there will throw at him.

I’ll be happy if he stays for any K within reason (K = contract in legalese, I’m tired of typing it, then erasing and writing out contract), but I’ll also be happy for him if he lands a big fat deal eslewhere. The guy stepped up his game and helped bring home a title, after all.

Mavo

This is going to be a very personal message and I apologize for those that may find it a bit too personal. But I have to share this feeling with all of you.

I am still on cloud nine from last night! Wow! After waiting 52 years for the first championship it feels like the dam has burst and now we have TWO champions in three years!! It is as sweet as I always imagined it would be.

There are so many great loyal Giants fans out there. I am not bragging when I claim that I am right at the top of that group! My first Giants game was at 5 years old at Seals Stadium in their first year in San Francisco 1958. And I have lived and died with my Giants ever since that first glimpse of the vivid green field and Willie Mays gliding across that emerald expanse. So, you may find Giants fans AS loyal as me … but I guarantee you will never find one more loyal and true to the Giants!!!

That first championship in 2010 was so sweet and satisfying that I truly thought I’d never experience that kind of euphoria again. But while it never is as good as that first time, in many ways I am more proud and moved by this championship team this year! As many of you know, I am currently in the fight of my life with Lou Gehrig’s disease also known as ALS. What I see is a metaphor for my struggle in what this team fought through to win this year.

Just as people wrote off this team when they were down and on the brink of elimination not once … but twice … people have a tendency to write off people with ALS. There’s the metaphor I am talking about! Just like me in my fight for my life, this team absolutely refused to give up, even when the odds looked so impossible!! And even when they overcame those odds to reach the World Series …. all the experts picked them as underdogs to a team that won 6 less games than they did and only had the 7th best record in the American League. But they fought hard and swept the Tigers away in four!!! So, THIS is my favorite Giants team of all time now!!

When the 2010 team won the World Series I was already seriously ill … but was able to attend all the playoff games albeit in a wheelchair. This year I am more sick and was not able to attend any games this year. The average survival time for ALS patients is about 18 months. I was told I had ALS over three years ago! So I feel fortunate to be around to witness this team win another championship and even to be typing this now!

But, like me, my Giants of 2012 absolutely refused to give up!! Barry Zito refused to give up!!! Ryan Vogelsong refused to give up!!! Buster came back from a devastating injury!!! And that is a lesson to all of us. It is NEVER over until it is OVER!! And that is why this team is my new all-time favorite team!!!

San Francisco Giants 2012 World Champions of baseball!!! God, that sounds so great!!

Good health!

Foothills Ryan

Mavo,

You’re the best!

Best of health to you and always be Mavo-licious !

Anti-Lasorda

For the record Footy… as of today, this is my roster for 2013. Assuming we bring back the band….

Let me add. While the downside of the blog comment section is the absence of body language and voice inflection, there are also clear upsides.

I have become nearly incapable of social interaction with those that don’t already know me. My train of though gets derailed mid-sentence often by pain, and it is not exactly easy or comfortable for a person to engage in conversation with me when I suddenly compulsively dislocate an arm and readjust muscle. It is not easy when you lose control over your body. Here, so long as people can deal with a cow’s rear in their face anyways, my opinion can almost be communicated.

I’m writing this because I can imagine the fight you are in Mavo, and I am glad we have you here.

And if it comes that we can be of some help, say you need a new keyboard with larger keys to help type what your body won’t allow with a normal keyboard, enough of us here will get it done.

KezarMike

Anti-Lasorda: I like your roster. No reason to change much for 2013. I’d like Melky back, but would feel fine about sticking Blanco out there in LF. Improvements on offense should come from the Brandons, Pence, Blanco and a healthy Panda. Either Nady or Pill replaces Huff on the roster or Sabean waves his magic wand again.

Not a Giants fan, per se, but grew up hating the Tigers so they became my team during the World Series. My wife is a fan of not getting sports. You can read about the final inning and how America’s pastime was almost ruined here.